Method for wastewater treatment through microorganism biochemical pathway optimization

ABSTRACT

Increased control and efficiency over the wastewater purification can be achieved through creating conditions that allow the operator to selectively prioritize the digestive function of microorganism in the activated sludge. The gas-dispersion return sludge is created using pure oxygen or oxygen containing trace amounts of ozone as a reactive gas, which is blended with return sludge to create a mixture of gas and liquid, which is passed through an atomizer or a cavitation pump to instantly render the reactive gas to an ultra-fine bubble state. At least a portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolve within the gas-dispersion return sludge, activating the dormant microorganisms. Due to a complete or an almost complete absence of biodegradable material in the gas-dispersion return sludge, the microorganism prioritize their digestive function, and when exposed to biodegradable pollutants present in wastewater, digest the pollutants using biochemical pathways different from the ones used in nature.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 11,046,603,issued Jun. 29, 2021; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No.10,689,279, issued Jun. 23, 2020; which is a continuation of U.S. Pat.No. 10,457,582, issued Oct. 29, 2019; which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Pat. No. 10,435,319, issued Oct. 8, 2019; which is a continuationof U.S. Pat. No. 10,167,214, issued Jan. 1, 2019, the priority dates ofwhich are claimed and the disclosures of which are incorporated byreference.

FIELD

The present invention relates in general to wastewater purification, andin particular, to a system for wastewater treatment throughmicroorganism biochemical pathway optimization.

BACKGROUND

The activated sludge method is employed widely today for thepurification of wastewater. The activated sludge method is a biochemicaltreatment and oxidation process which employs microorganisms and oxygento immobilize organic pollutant substances which are dissolved inwastewater into activated sludge utilizing the reproductive function ofthe sludge, and then utilizes the digestive function of the sludge tobreak down a portion of the organic pollutants into water (H₂O) andcarbon dioxide gas (CO₂) for removal. Other pollutants present in thewastewater, such as ammonia, can be similarly broken down into water andother byproducts.

The typical activated sludge wastewater treatment techniques have over acentury of history and many challenges are associated with suchtraditional techniques. For instance, the biochemical cleansing oforganic pollutant substances depends largely on the quantity ofmicroorganisms (return sludge), the density of the microorganisms, andthe degree of their activity. However, to increase the quantity ofmicroorganisms, their density, and their activity, increasing the supplyof dissolved oxygen, which is essential to the microorganisms, isnecessary. Without adequate supply of dissolved oxygen, the wastewatertreatment may not be effective.

When the activated sludge method is employed under natural environmentalconditions, namely, at 20° C. under standard pressure, 1 DO (mg/L) ofdissolved oxygen is required to purify 1 BOD (biochemical oxygen demandin mg/L) of organic pollutants in a five-day period. Similarly, 1 DO(mg/L) of dissolved oxygen is required to purify 1 COD (chemical oxygendemand in mg/L) of organic pollutants at 20° C. under standard pressurein a 30-minute to two-hour period. Therefore, under standardenvironmental conditions, the purification processing performance of thestandard activated sludge method does not exceed 1 BOD per 1 DO, and inthe same way, 1 DO is required to purify 1 COD. In other words, topurify either 1 BOD of pollutant or 1 COD of pollutant, 1 DO ofdissolved oxygen is required. As for the time required, 1 BOD ofpollutant require five days and 1 COD of pollutant requires 30 minutesto two hours.

While many enhancements and improvements have been proposed totraditional activated sludge-based wastewater treatment, most of thempresume conditions which exist naturally in the environment. To date, noinnovative technology or method that brings about a revolutionaryimprovement in performance has been proposed.

The activated sludge method employs microbes and oxygen to effect abiochemical treatment and oxidation, isolating organic pollutants in thewastewater in the form of activated sludge, so that a portion of theorganic pollutants can be broken down, most commonly, to water (H₂O) andcarbon dioxide gas (CO₂), for removal. For this reason, the biochemicalpurification of the organic pollutants depends greatly upon the quantityof return sludge (microbe flora), the density of the microbe flora, andthe degree to which the microbe flora is activated.

One enhancement to traditional activated sludge-based wastewatertreatment is known as “preliminary aeration.” When preliminary aerationis used, the return sludge is aerated in advance, and the return sludge(microbe flora) thus activated is supplied to an aeration vessel.However, the capacity enhancement from preliminary aeration is limitedto about 30%, and due to this low improvement ratio the cost of aerationis immense. The additional cost of aeration is roughly 100%, so for a30% improvement in performance the cost is doubled, which is clearly notcost-effective.

Similarly, another technique used today is long-term continuous aerationbubbling technology, in which the wastewater to be purified and a returnactivated sludge are combined in an aeration basin into a mixed liquor.Air is provided through a blower into the aeration basin. Bubbles ofabout 1 mm are produced, aerating the mixed liquor so that the air isdissolved into the wastewater, providing oxygen for aerobicmicroorganisms and activating them so they can break down organic solidsin the wastewater more efficiently. However, as oxygen is not easilysoluble, even with the bubbling, the achieved concentration of dissolvedoxygen is not high enough to bring about a large increase inmicroorganisms, generally being 2-4 mg/l, a level similar to what isobserved in nature, such as in rivers and lakes. While a greater numberof microorganisms can be provided by increasing the amount of returnsludge inserted into the aeration basin, to be effective, the increasewould have to be accompanied by increasing the supply of availableoxygen, which may not be possible without physically changing theexisting setup. Further, currently any changes to the existing set-up,including the size and production capacity of any source of oxygen,would likely involve guesswork as to what changes would be sufficient toprovide the required oxygen, with no precise relationship between theamount of oxygen provided and the amount of contaminants removed beingknown.

Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,092, issued Sep. 12, 2006, to KousukeChiba (“'092 patent”), the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference, discloses a sewage treatment process by whichactivated-sludge is produced using a line atomizing treatment.Wastewater is introduced into the treatment line. The wastewater passesthrough the adjustment vessel and the sedimentation vessel whereinorganic pollutant substances are removed. Subsequently, the wastewaterenters the anaerobic reaction vessel where the wastewater is acted uponby anaerobic microorganisms. Subsequently, the wastewater enters theaerobic reactive vessel where organic matter within the wastewater isconverted into activated sludge by the action of aerobic microorganisms.After the conversion process in the aerobic reaction vessel, the treatedwastewater solution which has had the dissolved organic matter convertedinto activated sludge is sent together with the activated sludge to thesludge sedimentation vessel, and the supernatant water is expelled fromthe wastewater treatment system. The supernatant water may also besubjected to advanced treatment for further purification.

The '092 patent further discloses that a portion of the activated sludgewhich has settled in the sludge sedimentation vessel passes through thesludge intake pipe and is supplied respectively as return sludge to theadjustment vessel, sedimentation vessel, anaerobic reactive vessel,aerobic reactive vessel, and sludge sedimentation vessel to effectmultiple functionality for each of those vessels, and to enhance thetreatment capacity of the wastewater system while allowing the remainderof the activated sludge to undergo separate treatment as excess sludge.However, each vessel has an original function and role, and in manycases, adding activated return sludge which holds large quantities ofreactive gases (oxygen or oxygen with trace amounts of ozone) mayinterfere with those functions or roles, thus decreasing theeffectiveness of wastewater treatment.

Further, the cleansing of wastewater depends fundamentally on theactivity of microorganisms (activated sludge), and is thus saddled withthe problem of the formation of excess sludge due to the excessivereproduction of these microorganisms, and technology to control thisexcess has not yet adequately been realized. In other words, themicroorganisms which are involved in the cleansing of wastewater areconstantly reproducing themselves and then perishing due toself-oxidization, hence controlling and managing the amount of sludgeproduced and the amount destroyed is extremely difficult, and the lackof this control and management is considered the critical problem of theactivated sludge method. As a result, the large quantities of excesssludge that form are concentrated, transported and incinerated or buriedin landfills, causing massive processing costs for the removal of excesssludge and emissions problems from the release of carbon dioxide duringincineration.

In the activated sludge method, the activated sludge, that is, themicrobe flora, which purifies the organic and other pollutants in thewastewater, can be considered to be purifying primarily through thefollowing functions: the reproductive function, where the microbe floraabsorbs organic matter as food, the flora grows and multiplies viaasexual reproduction, and the absorbed matter is isolated in the form ofa clump of microbes; and the digestive function, where the microbe floraabsorbs organic and other matter as food, and digests the food torelease energy which it uses to stay alive and carry out its lifeprocesses. To efficiently purify the organic and other chemical matterin wastewater, there is an essential need for the sludge be activated,but under normal environmental conditions, the entire microbe flora isactivated and controlling or managing the digestive and reproductivefunctions separately is impossible. Under normal conditions, thereproductive function is liable to increase, creating large quantitiesof excess sludge. To purify organic and other matter efficiently,bringing these two functions into balance is necessary. Accordingly,there is a need to be able to control and manage both digestive andreproductive functions separately.

In the activated sludge method, the wastewater purification capacity isfundamentally dependent upon the activity of the microbe flora(activated sludge). For this reason, while having the microbes activatedis indispensable for increasing the wastewater purification capacity,wastewater purification techniques that simply activate in adirectionless fashion result in excess reproduction, bringing about theproblems of excess sludge which are among the most fundamental issueswith the activated sludge method.

Further, even if the digestive function is exhibited by themicroorganisms to a desired extent, the digestive function can beexhibited via multiple biochemical pathways, not all of which aredesirable. For example, under normal conditions (conditions encounteredin nature) digestion of acetic acid by microorganisms proceeds inaccordance with the following equation:CH₃COOH+2O₂→2H₂O+2CO₂+Energy  (1)Structurally similar organic pollutants are similarly processed. Suchreaction consumes two molecules of diatomic oxygen for every molecule ofacetic acid being digested, quickly depleting the amount of oxygennecessary to sustain the reaction. Further, carbon dioxide is agreenhouse gas, and treating activated sludge primarily through such areaction contributes to global warming, being undesirable when employedon industrial scale.

Likewise, exhibiting the digestive function under normal conditions onother kinds of pollutants can create undesirable byproducts. Forinstance, under normal conditions, ammonia is digested by microorganismsin accordance with the following equation:4NH₃+7O₂→4NO₂+6H₂O+Energy  (2)NO₂, nitrous oxide, is also a greenhouse gas, and wastewater treatmentutilizing this reaction on an industrial scale for an extended period oftime can make a noticeable contribution to global warming. Further, forevery four ammonia molecules being digested, the reaction consumes sevenmolecules of diatomic oxygen, quickly depleting the amount of oxygenavailable to sustain the wastewater treatment and requiring additionalefforts to maintain the necessary oxygen concentration in the wastewaterbeing treated.

However, there is a lack of technology available today that can handlethese issues. Specifically, the microbe flora goes through a constantcycle of growing through reproduction but then extinction of themicrobes by digestion, and the effective separate control and managementof the growth and extinction of microbe flora as caused by these twofunctions is considered an extremely difficult problem. Further, thecurrent technology is unable to direct the digestive function viapathways that do not produce undesirable byproducts or consume excessiveamounts of oxygen.

Accordingly, there is a need for a way to control the purifying functionof the microbe flora of activated sludge such that the purifying effectcan be utilized technologically and industrially.

SUMMARY

The system and method described below, firstly, enable separate controland management of the reproductive function and the digestive functionof the microbes which are the key factors in the activated sludge-basedwastewater treatment, thereby limiting the production of excess sludge.Secondly, whereas in the activated sludge method 1 DO is defined as theunit of purifying 1 BOD or 1 COD, the system and method described below,by limiting the reproductive function and enhancing the digestivefunction, allows the purification of a far greater quantity of organicmatter than in the traditional method where no more than 1 BOD or 1 CODcan be purified with 1 DO of dissolved oxygen. Thirdly, the system andmethod described below allow the individual control and management ofthe reproductive and digestive function in the activated sludge-basedwastewater treatments. In addition, the system and method describe belowallow to direct the digestive function via biochemical pathways that donot produce undesirable byproducts, such as greenhouse gases and do notconsume as much oxygen as under normal conditions. Fourthly, the systemand method described below can be easily and inexpensively fitted to theactivated sludge-based wastewater treatment facilities currently in usethroughout the world.

The system and method described below focuses on the digestive functionof microbe flora which absorbs organic matter as food and breaks theorganic matter down for sustenance and life energy, and causes themicrobe flora to exhibit their digestive function more than theirreproductive function by creating or providing a near-starvation statewhich is not dependent upon the respective quantities of microbes andfood. In particular, the system and method described below createconditions that do not exist in nature to activate the microbe flora toa high degree, providing an extreme starvation environment, spurring themicrobes to exhibit the digestive function over the reproductivefunction, such that the quantity of organic matter which can be digestedwith 1 DO is far greater than the 1 BOD or 1 COD which was the maximumattainable in the traditional activated sludge-based purification. Thus,by creating or providing conditions which do not exist in nature, thesystem and method described below stimulate strongly and to a highdegree the activated sludge (microbe flora) which purify the organicmatter and other matter in wastewater, separately controlling andmaintaining the reproductive function and the digestive function whichthe microbes possess, thereby yielding an effect which is revolutionaryand unimaginable in nature. Further, under these conditions that do notexist in nature, the digestive function utilizes biochemical pathwaysthat consume less (if any) oxygen than is found under conditions and, inaddition to water, create byproducts that are inert, such as amorphouscarbon or diatomic nitrogen (N₂).

Some of the features of the system and method described below caninclude: using pure oxygen (O₂) or oxygen with a trace amount of ozone(O₃) (e.g. less than 0.5 mg/L of sludge) as a reactive gas;super-saturating the return sludge with pure oxygen (at least DO 10mg/L); dissolving trace amounts of ozone (less than 0.5 mg/L) in thereturn sludge; supplying to the aerobic reaction vessel return sludgewith pure oxygen or the oxygen/ozone mixture in the quantity equal to atleast 10% of the wastewater to be treated; and activating the entiremicrobe flora (all of the return activated sludge).

By providing these features, individually or in a group (includingproviding all of the conditions), the microbe flora is activated. Theactivation takes place when the organic matter which serves as food tothe microbes is cut off. When the activated microbe flora reaches anextreme state near the point of starvation, the microbes begin to absorborganic matter to the limit of their capacity, regardless of thequantity of food or the quantity of microbes, and they prioritize theirdigestive function via pathways that lead to a greatest amount of energyand a least amount of waste, deepening the degree of wastewaterpurification. The extreme state near the point of starvation here refersto a state in which the microbes, having been activated to a highdegree, enter a state of extreme near-starvation, pushing them to thepoint where they become desperate for food, after which they suddenlyencounter food (in the form of a mixture of return sludge andwastewater). As a result, the reproductive function of the microbesbecomes suppressed and the production of large quantities of excesssludge is prevented. Specifically, by forcing the microbes into a stateof near-starvation, it is possible to control and monitor the functionswhich the microbes naturally possess. In particular, the use of thesystem and method below allows the operator to cause the microbes toprioritize digestion over reproduction, which suppresses the productionof excess sludge.

Further, because the microbes are activated strongly by the introductionof reactive gas into the Gas-Dispersion Return sludge, a high level ofpreliminary aeration can observed, and wastewater treatment capacity isdramatically enhanced. As a result of the enhanced wastewater treatmentcapacity, use of a far smaller aerobic reaction vessel becomes possible,eliminating the high-cost, energy-wasting processes of bubbling andchurning which are necessitated in the conventional activated-sludgebased techniques because of the poor water solubility of oxygen.Further, due to the microbe flora being activated to a high degree underenvironmental conditions which do not exist in nature, wastewaterpurification can be achieved with a much greater efficiency and in a farshorter time than in the conventional activated sludge method in whichorganic matter is defined in terms of BODs and CODs.

The system and method described below can be implemented on any existingwastewater treatment facility easily and with very small investment, andcan be retrofitted, and can provide industrial energy savings andeconomic benefit on a global scale. In particular, the system and methodallow the operator to solve the problem of the huge expenditures onenergy for inefficient bubbling of insoluble air used as reactive gas,as well as the requirement for gigantic aeration facilities, and theproblem of the production of large amounts of excess sludge duringwastewater purification can be solved simultaneously, with a potentialto bring about a massive economic effect to the entire world. Further,as world population is rapidly concentrating in cities, this inventionallows for the rebirth of the activated sludge-based as a low-cost,high-efficiency, low-energy-consuming urban infrastructure technology.

In one embodiment, a method for wastewater treatment throughmicroorganism biochemical pathway optimization is provided. A sludge isprovided, the sludge including microorganisms capable of digesting aplurality of pollutants via at least two biochemical pathways, one ofthe pathways for digesting each of the pollutants consuming less oxygenthan another one of the pathways for consuming that pollutant, whereinthe sludge is substantially free of the pollutants, and wherein at leasta majority of the microorganisms are in a dormant state when provided.Using a gas generator at least one reactive gas is provided into thesludge, the at least one reactive gas including the oxygen. Agas-dispersion return sludge is formed by rendering using one of anatomizer or a cavitation pump the at least one reactive gas intoultra-fine bubbles within the return sludge, wherein a portion of theultra-fine bubbles dissolves within the sludge, wherein the at least onedissolved reactive gas activates at least a portion of the dormantmicroorganisms, and wherein the gas-dispersion return sludge issubstantially free of the pollutants. A mixed liquor is formed bycombining the gas-dispersion return sludge with a wastewater thatincludes one or more of the pollutants, wherein, upon encountering thepollutants within the wastewater, the activated microorganisms digestthe pollutants by prioritizing for at least some of the pollutants thepathways that consume less of the oxygen for the digestion of thosepollutants over the pathways that consume more of the oxygen for thedigestion of those pollutants.

In a further embodiment, a method for input-controlled wastewatertreatment through microorganism biochemical pathway optimization isprovided. A sludge is provided, the sludge including microorganismscapable of digesting a plurality of pollutants via at least twobiochemical pathways, one of the pathways for digesting each of thepollutants consuming less oxygen than another one of the pathways forconsuming that pollutant, wherein the sludge is substantially free ofthe pollutants, and wherein at least a majority of the microorganismsare in a dormant state when provided. Using a gas generator at least onereactive gas is provided into the sludge, the at least one reactive gasincluding the oxygen; User input is received by a controller. Agas-dispersion return sludge is formed by rendering using one of anatomizer or a cavitation pump the at least one reactive gas intoultra-fine bubbles within the sludge, wherein a portion of theultra-fine bubbles dissolves within the sludge, wherein the at least onedissolved reactive gas activates at least a portion of the dormantmicroorganisms, and wherein the gas-dispersion return sludge issubstantially free of the pollutants. A mixed liquor is formed bycombining based on the user input the gas-dispersion return sludge witha wastewater that comprises one or more of the pollutants, wherein, uponencountering the pollutants within the wastewater, the activatedmicroorganisms digest the pollutants by prioritizing for at least someof the pollutants the pathways that consume less of the oxygen for thedigestion of those pollutants over the pathways that consume more of theoxygen for the digestion of those pollutants.

In a still further embodiment, a method for measurement-based wastewatertreatment adjustment through microorganism biochemical pathwayoptimization is provided. A sludge is provided, the sludge includingmicroorganisms capable of digesting a plurality of pollutants via atleast two biochemical pathways, one of the pathways for digesting eachof the pollutants consuming less oxygen than another one of the pathwaysfor consuming that pollutant, wherein the sludge is substantially freeof the pollutants, and wherein at least a majority of the microorganismsare in a dormant state when provided. Using a gas generator at least onereactive gas is provided into the sludge, the at least one reactive gasincluding the oxygen. A gas-dispersion return sludge is formed byrendering using one of an atomizer or a cavitation pump the at least onereactive gas into ultra-fine bubbles within the sludge, wherein aportion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolves within the sludge, whereinthe at least one dissolved reactive gas activates at least a portion ofthe dormant microorganisms, and wherein the gas-dispersion return sludgeis substantially free of the pollutants. A mixed liquor is formed bycombining the gas-dispersion return sludge with a wastewater thatcomprises one or more of the pollutants, wherein, upon encountering thepollutants within the wastewater, the activated microorganisms digestthe pollutants by prioritizing for at least some of the pollutants thepathways that consume less of the oxygen for the digestion of thosepollutants over the pathways that consume more of the oxygen for thedigestion of those pollutants. The mixed liquor is separated into asupernatant and the sludge. An amount of the sludge separated from themixed liquor is measured, wherein a ratio of the gas-dispersion returnsludge to the wastewater is adjusted in forming further batches of themixed liquor based on the amount of the sludge separated from the mixedliquor.

Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, wherein are described embodiments of the invention by wayof illustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out theinvention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other anddifferent embodiments and its several details are capable ofmodifications in various obvious respects, all without departing fromthe spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative innature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B are block diagrams showing a system for wastewater treatmentthrough controlled microorganism activation in accordance with twoembodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2B are flow diagrams showing a method for wastewater treatmentthrough controlled microorganism activation in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a routine for forming gas-dispersionreturn sludge and returning the gas-dispersion return sludge to theaerobic reaction vessel for use in the method of FIG. 2A-2B inaccordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Traditionally, the relationship between the amount of oxygen provided tomicroorganisms and the amount of pollutants in wastewater that thosemicroorganisms can break down using the oxygen has been thought to belinear. Thus, regardless of the overall concentration of oxygen, 1 DO(mg/l) has been thought to be capable of facilitating the breakdown of 1BOD or 1 COD of pollutants. As further described below, at high oxygenconcentrations achievable through the use of the system and methoddescribed below, that relationship is no longer linear, and theachievable wastewater purification effect far exceeds the effectachievable with activated sludge-based purification when oxygen remainsat a level seen in nature (2-4 mg/l). This effect increases the rate atwhich wastewater can be purified and decreases the cost of suchpurification.

Microorganisms, after being placed in an environment with very littlefood or a closed environment which causes near-starvation, can, uponcontact with food, exhibit advantageously their digestive abilities overtheir reproductive abilities. The increase in the purification abilityof the microorganisms in the presence of the high level of oxygen isachieved by making the microorganisms prioritize their digestionfunction over their reproduction function. Microorganisms (also referredto as microbes below), such as bacteria and protozoa, prioritize theirdigestive function when the amount of available consumable material(such as organic pollutants) is low relative to the microorganismpopulation. On the other hand, when the amount of the consumablematerial is high relative to the microorganism population, enough tosatisfy the energy needs of the existing microorganism population aswell as additional population, the reproductive function of themicroorganisms is prioritized over the digestive function and themicroorganisms asexually reproduce. In the description below, themicroorganisms exhibiting their digestive and reproductive function caninclude aerobic microorganisms, as well as facultative anaerobic andopportunistic microorganisms. FIGS. 1A-1B are block diagrams showing asystem 10 for wastewater treatment through controlled microorganismactivation in accordance with two embodiments. The system 10 in theembodiment shown with reference to FIG. 1A includes a SedimentationVessel (also known as a sediment pool and a grit chamber) 12, anAdjustment Vessel 14, a Mixer/Distributor 15, one or more AerobicReaction Vessels (also known as an aeration vessel) 16, a SludgeSedimentation Vessel 18, a Sludge Storage Vessel 20, an Atomizer 24, anda Treated Water Processing Unit 73. The system 10 shown with referenceto FIG. 1B includes a Sedimentation Vessel (also known as a sedimentpool and a grit chamber) 12, an Adjustment Vessel 14, aMixer/Distributor 15, one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels (also knownas an aeration vessel) 16, a Sludge Sedimentation Vessel 18, a SludgeStorage Vessel 20, a Cavitation Pump 22, and a Treated Water ProcessingUnit 73. In a still further embodiment, the system 10 could include botha Cavitation Pump 22 and an Atomizer 24.

The Sludge Storage Vessel 20 and the one or more Aerobic ReactionVessels 16 are connected by the Return Sludge Pipeway 26, constructedsuch that return sludge which has settled in the Sludge Storage Vessel20 can be supplied to the Mixer/Distributor 15 and eventually to the oneor more Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16. The Atomizer 24 or the CavitationPump 22 are positioned linearly along the Return Sludge Pipeway 26.Return Sludge 35 which travels through Return Sludge Pipeway 26 istherefore acted on by the Atomizer 24 (in the embodiment of the system10 shown with reference to FIG. 1A) or the Cavitation Pump (in theembodiment of the system 10 shown with reference to FIG. 1B) and becomesgas-dispersion return sludge 36, which is in turn supplied to theMixer/Distributor 15 and the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16 asgas-dispersion return sludge 36.

The system 10 further includes an Oxygen and Ozone Generator 28 thatprovides at least one reactive gas 37, oxygen with a possible additionof ozone, for addition to the return sludge 35. The Oxygen Supply Pipe30 and the Ozone Supply Pipe 32 which are connected to the Oxygen andOzone Generator 28 are connected to one or more pipes that is part of aReturn Sludge Pipeway 26 and is in the upstream (intake) side ofAtomizer 24 (in the embodiment of the system 10 shown with reference toFIG. 1A) or of the Cavitation Pump 22 (in the embodiment of the system10 shown with reference to FIG. 1B).

For the Oxygen and Ozone Generator 28, the oxygen and ozone generator inU.S. Pat. No. 7,105,092 may be utilized. Other kinds of generators arepossible. In one embodiment, the total amount of gas with produced bythe Oxygen and Ozone Generator 28 includes no less than 90% of oxygen,with the concentration of ozone within the gas-dispersion return sludge36 not exceeding 0.5 mg/L and the concentration of oxygen being morethan 10 mg/L.

The Return Sludge Pipeway 26 is connected only to the Mixer/Distributor15 (and hence to the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16), and istherefore not connected to Sedimentation Vessel 12, Adjustment Vessel14, and Sludge Sedimentation Vessel 18. The technological reason forthis is discussed below.

As further described below beginning with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B, theWastewater for Treatment (raw sewage) 11 enters Sedimentation Vessel 12where grit and other inorganic solids settle and are separated out. Fromthe Sedimentation Vessel 12, the Wastewater 11 flows into AdjustmentVessel 14 where the load and conditions of the inflowing raw sewage areadjusted, such as through automatic dilution, though other adjustmentsare possible, and organic solids present in the wastewater aresolubilized by anaerobic microorganisms.

From the Adjustment Vessel 14, the Wastewater 11 flows into theMixer/Distributor 15. The Mixer/Distributor 15 (also referred to as“Mixer” in the description below) receives wastewater 11 supplied fromthe Adjustment Vessel 14 and also receives gas-dispersion return sludge36 supplied from via the Return Sludge Pipeway 26, mixes them togetherand supplies a mixture (“a mixed liquor 17”) of gas-dispersion returnsludge 36 and wastewater 11 to the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels16. From there, aeration by bubbling using air as a reactive gas becomesunnecessary due to the reactive gas contained in gas-dispersion returnsludge 36, which supplies dissolved oxygen (DO) to the Aerobic ReactionVessel 16 (and initially to the Mixer 15). The Mixer 15 can include suchparts as necessary for carrying out this function, such as a vessel fortemporarily holding the mixed liquor 17, connections to the AerobicReaction Vessels 16, and one or more pumps for pumping the mixed liquor17 to the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16. When there aremultiple Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16, the Mixer/Distributor 15 can bemanaged appropriately to distribute to each of them in accordance withthe treatment capacity of each. In an installation with only one AerobicReaction Vessel, the Mixer/Distributor 15 can be entirely omitted, withthe wastewater 11 and the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 being pumpeddirectly into the Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16, where they form the mixedliquor 17.

As further described below, the microorganism flora in the gasdispersion return sludge 36 has been activated by the oxygen (possiblywith a trace of ozone) supplied by the gas generator 28. Thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 is either completely devoid of, or hasan extremely low level of organic pollutants (and other pollutants thatcan be digested to obtain energy) that can be digested by the activatedmicroorganisms. At such conditions, the microorganisms have beenempirically shown to prioritize their digestive function at the expenseof their reproductive function, even though the microorganisms have noway to capitalize on the function at that point in time due to acomplete or almost complete absence of digestible material. Upon the gasdispersion return sludge 36 being mixed with the wastewater thatincludes digestible organic pollutants (and other pollutants, such asammonia, that can be digested to produce energy), the microorganismsthat have previously been “starved” of digestible material startexhibiting the digestive function at an elevated rate compared to asuppressed reproductive function, thus turning the majority of thepollutants into water and other byproducts. As described further belowwith reference to equation (3) and (4), the byproducts of the digestionand the oxygen requirements for the digestion differ from what thebyproducts and the oxygen requirements under norm al conditions. Theprioritizing of the digestive function over the reproductive functioncontinues within the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16 until theenergy requirements of the microorganism have been satisfied, at whichpoint they can also start exhibiting the reproductive function toproduce sludge 21 if any organic pollutants (or other absorbablepollutants) remain in the mixed liquor 17 undigested. Upon complete orsubstantially complete consumption of the digestible or absorbablepollutants within the mixed liquor, at least a portion of themicroorganisms (such as the majority or all of the microorganisms withinthe mixed liquor) enter a dormant state (in which biochemical processeswithin the microorganisms are substantially slowed down or halted) dueto a lack of further digestible material.

Upon completion of a hold time, a time that can be experimentallydetermined to be adequate for the completion of the digestion (andpossibly consumption through the reproductive function) of the organicpollutants (and other pollutants, such as ammonia, on which thefunctions can be exhibited) in the mixed liquor 17, the mixed liquor 17is pumped from the Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16 to the SludgeSedimentation Vessel 18, where the mixed liquor 17 is separated into asupernatant and a sludge 21. The sludge 21 is collected in SludgeStorage Vessel 20, and as described further below, is returned toAerobic Reaction Vessel 16 in the form of gas-dispersion return sludge36, for cyclical reuse. In a further embodiment, the system 10 can omitthe Sludge Storage Vessel 20, and the exit side of Sludge SedimentationVessel 18 and the Mixer/Distributor 15 are connected to the ReturnSludge Pipeway 26.

The supernatant is pumped out from the Sludge Sedimentation Vessel 18 asTreated Water 72, which in turn is pumped into a Treated WaterProcessing Unit 73, where the water is further processed. Suchprocessing can include sterilization, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.10,287,194, filed issued May 14, 2019, to Ohki et al., the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference, though other ways to sterilize theTreated Water 73 is possible. Other processing can be done at the unit73. While the unit 73 is shown as a single physical structure withreference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the unit 73 could also be made up ofmultiple, spatially separated components. The water processed by unit 73is expelled from the system 10 as Purified Water 74, now being suitablefor use, such as drinking.

Additionally, the excess sludge is pumped out of the wastewatermanagement system as Excess Sludge 27.

At least some portion of the sludge from Sludge Sedimentation Vessel 18passes through the Return Sludge Pipeway 26 in the form of Return Sludge35, entering the Atomizer 24 (in the embodiment of the system 10 shownwith reference to FIG. 1A) or the Cavitation Pump 22 (in the embodimentof the system 10 shown with reference to FIG. 1B). Before the entrancepoint of the Atomizer Pump 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22, pure oxygen gasor pure oxygen gas with trace amounts of ozone are mixed into ReturnSludge 35, forming gas-dispersion return sludge 36.

The creation of the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 is made possible bythe use of the Atomizer 24 (in the embodiment of the system 10 shownwith reference to FIG. 1A) or the Cavitation Pump 22 (in the embodimentof the system 10 shown with reference to FIG. 1B). In particular, agas-liquid mixture (a mixture of the at least one reactive gas 37 withthe Return Sludge 35) is formed within the Return Sludge Pipeway 26 andis pumped to the Atomizer 24 (in the embodiment of the system 10 shownwith reference to FIG. 1A), which has the function of churning andmixing the aforementioned gas-liquid under high pressure (approximately0.0981-5.394 MPa (1-55 kg/cm²)), then employing either cavitation or20-12,000 kHz ultrasound respectively or both simultaneously to induceultra-fine bubbles in the gas-liquid mixture of diameter from 1nm-30,000 nm, further causing oxygen radicalization and hydroxylradicalization. A portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolve within thegas-dispersion return sludge, raising the level of the dissolved oxygento the critical threshold of at least 10 mg/l (with the concentration ofozone, if ozone is utilized, being 0.01-0.5 mg/l), and a portion isstored with the sludge 36 as ultra-fine bubbles. Thus, the Atomizer 24can instantaneously render the desired quantity of reactive gas 37 intoultra-fine bubbles, rapidly dissolving a portion of the reactive gas,then disperse, immobilize and store the excess in a liquid in the formof ultra-fine bubbles. Increasing the level of the dissolved oxygen tothe critical threshold (at least 10 mg/l) has been empirically shown toactivate the microorganisms within the sludge 36, removing them from thedormant state. While the microorganism are activated at this point andare ready to digest organic and other digestible pollutants (and areprioritizing their digestive function over their reproductive function),the level of digestible pollutants (or other digestible organicmaterials) within the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 is either at zeroor close to zero (at a level insufficient to satiate the prioritizeddigestive function of the microorganism), and thus the microorganismsare forced into a state of extreme starvation.

In one embodiment, the Atomizer 24 can be the OHR Mixer sold by OHRLaboratory Corporation of 536-1, Noda, Irumashi, Saitama 358-0054 Japan.In a further embodiment, other Atomizers 24 can be used.

Similarly, in the embodiment of the system 10 shown with reference toFIG. 1B, instead of entering the Atomizer 24, the mixture of the returnsludge 35 and the at least one reactive gas 37 enters a Cavitation Pump22. Cavitation is the formation of vapor cavities in a liquid. In pumps,cavitation is caused by an impeller of the pump moving through a liquid,with low-pressure areas being formed as the liquid accelerates and movespast the blades, causing the liquid to vaporize and form small bubblesof gas. While cavitation in most cases is undesirable as cavitation isdamaging to the components of the pump, the Cavitation Pump 22, whilesubject to increased wear due to cavitation, takes advantage of thecavitation effect to help dissolve-at least one reactive gas 37 withinthe return sludge to create gas-dispersion return sludge 36. Inparticular, the rotation of the impeller of the Cavitation Pump 22 isfast enough to slice the formed bubbles into multiple smaller bubbles,thus forming ultra-fine bubbles of the 1 nm-30,000 nm diameter. TheCavitation Pump 22 operates under a high pressure, which facilitates thedissolution of the at least one reactive gas 37 within the return sludge35. In one embodiment, the pressure inside the pump 22 is between 0.0981MPa and 5.394 MPa, though other values of pressure are also possible.

In a still further embodiment, the system 10 could include both theCavitation Pump 22 and the Atomizer 24, with both the Cavitation Pump 22and the Atomizer 24 contributing to the creation of the ultra-finebubbles and creation of the gas-dispersion return sludge 36. Thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 is returned solely to Mixer/Distributor15 and the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16, and is not returnedto Sedimentation Vessel 12, Adjustment Vessel 14, or SludgeSedimentation Vessel 18. The returned quantity of gas-dispersion returnsludge 36 is unitarily controlled and unitarily managed to maximize thesum total reduction of carbon dioxide, the reduction in treatment costs,and the reduction in energy usage of the entire wastewater treatmentsystem. Because the wastewater treatment capacity of-one or more AerobicReaction Vessels 16 is dramatically increased, the Aerobic ReactionVessel 16 can be made very small.

Due to processing by the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22 and beingsubsequently provided to the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16,the microbe flora within gas-dispersion return sludge 36 becomesactivated by the oxygen (and possibly ozone) that the microbes receive.For example, when the gas-dispersion return sludge enters AerobicReaction Vessel 16 (or if the Mixer/Distributor 15 is employed, theMixer 15), the activated microbes have been brought to a state ofextreme near-starvation, so that between their reproductive function andtheir digestive function, they autonomously prioritize digestion overreproduction. Thus, the provision of the high level of oxygen (or oxygenwith the trace of ozone) allows the operator to individually control andmanage the reproductive and digestive functions of the microbe colonies,prioritizing the digestive function of the microbes over thereproductive function. In the present application, the term“reproductive function” of the microbe flora is defined as the functionby which the microbes absorb as food organic matter contained inwastewater 11, the microbes grow, and then reproduce, such that theorganic matter becomes isolated as a mass of matter and microbes, thuspurifying the wastewater. The “digestive function” of the microbecolonies is defined as the function by which the microbes absorb as foodorganic matter contained in wastewater, then break it down and digest itto gain energy which sustains their activity and their life processes.

The high activation of the microorganisms is particularly pronouncedwhen the concentration of oxygen within the Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16reaches a particular critical threshold, with the presence within themixed liquor 17 of at least 10% of volume of the gas-dispersion returnsludge 36 that has at least 10 mg/l of dissolved oxygen (a level thatcan be achieved through the use of the Atomizer 24 or the CavitationPump 22). Once that threshold is reached, 1 DO (mg/l) is enough forbreaking down more pollutants than what would be included in 1 BOD or 1COD when the dissolved oxygen within the Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16 isat a lower level. At these conditions, the amount of pollutants degradedby the microorganisms within the Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16 hasexperimentally been shown to exceed 20 times the amount of pollutantdegraded by the same microorganisms than when the concentration ofoxygen is at levels close to those occurring in nature (2-4 (mg/l). At adiffering concentration of oxygen, the critical threshold of thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 that needs to be added to the AerobicReaction Vessel 16 would change proportionally. The knowledge of thiseffect can be used to calculate with great precision an amount of thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 that is necessary for purification of aparticular amount of wastewater 11, allowing to reduce the amount ofunnecessary Excess Sludge 27 produced. Likewise, knowing the volumes ofthe gas-dispersion return sludge 36 and the volume of wastewater 11 thatneed to be handled can allow to properly size the components of thesystem 10, reducing waste and cost of creating the system 10.

As the formation of ultra-fine bubbles plays an important role in theactivation of the microorganisms, additional explanation is providedregarding the formation and use of the bubbles below. Regarding theslowing effect on the velocity at which bubbles rise within a liquidwhich can be achieved by producing bubbles which are ultra-fine, bubbleswith diameter of around 30 μm rise within a liquid at approximately 1m/hr, and at a diameter of around 1 μm they rise at less than 0.005 m/hr(Stokes' Law for Spherical Bubbles). With this range of velocity,bubbles remain within the liquid for long enough that they canimmediately and at the required position replace dissolved oxygen whichhas been consumed by the biochemical reaction with the pollutantsubstances in the wastewater to be treated, and furthermore, because thebubbles can be dispersed in ultra-fine bubble form, uniformly and ingreat quantity, and therefore in the same places where oxygen has beenconsumed, a bubble storage function is also achieved.

In this way, the desired reactive gases including oxygen or oxygen andozone can be supplied and stored with extremely long duration, withneither surplus nor shortage, thereby shortening and stimulating thebiochemical reaction, and also allowing that the supply within the timeperiod required to carry out the biochemical reaction need notnecessarily be continuous but can be intermittent.

As mentioned above, the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22 isemployed to disperse gas into liquid in the form of ultra-fine bubbles.To render bubbles to an ultra-fine size and blend the ultra-fine bubblesinto liquid, mechanical agitation and cutting are insufficient toachieve the nano level, and only when the velocity of the two-phase flowof the vapor-liquid is increased through pressurization, and asynergistic effect with the vortex churning of the liquid is generatedusing cavitation and ultrasound, that the bubbles are broken down toultra-fine state and blended into the mixture as ultra-fine bubbles. Forthe gas to be dissolved and remain in dissolved state, pressureconditions are of key importance, and higher pressures are known to bemore advantageous. Taking all these factors into account, the range ofpressure chosen for the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22 is from0.0981 MPa-5.394 MPa (1-55 kg/cm²).

While in a simple return process for activated sludge (with zeroaddition of reactive gas), operating in low pressure ranges helps toavoid destroying the microorganisms which exist in the activated sludge,maintaining the pressure low no longer makes sense when reactive gas isadded to the sludge. The reason to strive for the highest pressure thatcan be practically achieved (approximately 5.5 MPa), is to effectivelyutilize, in the oxidation and decomposition process of sludge employingreactive gas including high density ozone, a synergistic oxidation anddecomposition effect between the actions of cavitation and ultrasound,which under high pressure cause the oxidation and breakdown of ozoneitself, and the functioning of O radicals and OH radicals. With thelarge-capacity wastewater treatment employing the activated sludgemethod 40 and the system 10, care has been taken to choose frequenciesof ultrasound which can be used easily and economically, and so at lowpressure ranges a frequency of 20 kHz was chosen, and for high pressureranges (approximately 5.5 MPa) a frequency of 12,000 kHz was chosen. Ina further embodiment, other frequencies in the 20 kHz-12,000 kHz rangeare possible.

For the Oxygen and Ozone Generator 28, an ozone generator or similar maybe used to regulate the supply of oxygen and the generation of ozone.For example, by employing an ozone-generating element comprising anelectrode mounted to a boss fashioned from a dielectric substance, and ahigh-frequency high-voltage power source which applies a high-frequencyalternating current to the ozone-generating element while supplying anoxygen-rich gas to the ozone-generating element, and adjusting thequantity of ozone generated by using a regulator to control the voltageand/or the frequency of the power source, it becomes possible to effectan oxygen/ozone cycle generator which regulates the amount of oxygen andozone supplied, to cope with fluctuations in the quality and load ofsewage for wastewater treatment due to morning, daytime or nighttime, ordue to either dry weather or rainy weather, or to cope with processesbased mainly on the supply of oxygen and with processes based mainly onoxidation and decomposition by ozone. For the reactive gas includingoxygen to be supplied, oxygen-enriched air or pure oxygen are bothacceptable. The supplied gas may also be pumped as is, with zero ozonegeneration. Of course, the operation of the oxygen/ozone cycle generatormay also be suspended. Further, while the Oxygen and Ozone generator 28is represented as a single unit, in a further embodiment, the system 10could include multiple generators 28, one generator 28 providing ozoneand another generator providing oxygen, with the gases provided by bothgenerators being provided into the Return Sludge Pathway 26 to be mixedwith the return sludge 35.

In the activated sludge process, the microorganisms which effect thebiochemical reaction are returned to the wastewater intake side with aportion of the sludge (return sludge) such that the microorganisms areutilized cyclically. If the wastewater 11 to be treated includes highdensities of organic substances, and accelerating the microbialbiochemical reaction is therefore necessary, then maximizing thequantity of oxygen dissolved in the wastewater 11 or replenishingdissolved oxygen rapidly according to the amount of dissolved oxygenwhich is consumed is desirable. The system 10 performs favorably in thisrespect, employing the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22, to infusewith the required amount of oxygen gas (or oxygen with the trace ofozone) the water which carries the return sludge back to AerobicReaction Vessel 16. The microbial biochemical reaction is accelerateddramatically due to the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22 supplyinga plentiful amount of oxygen (or oxygen with a trace of ozone) in adissolved state and in the form of ultra-fine bubbles in an extremelyshort time.

Because ultra-fine bubbles, as previously described, require a very longtime to float to the surface of Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16, during thetime which it takes them to float to the surface of Aerobic ReactionVessel 16, the ultra-fine bubbles in Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16 aredispersed and stored in the form of ultra-fine bubbles, and continuouslyreplenish the dissolved oxygen. By maintaining a high quantity ofdissolved oxygen in Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16, significant accelerationof the microbial biochemical reaction becomes possible. Due to theeffect of the microbial biochemical reaction within Aerobic ReactionVessel 16, a portion of the organic matter in the wastewater isdigested, releasing carbon dioxide and water, and a portion of theorganic matter is consumed by activated sludge microorganisms; themicroorganisms multiply, and the activated sludge is generated. In thiscase, by adding not only oxygen to the wastewater, but by optionallyalso adding and employing trace amounts (e.g. up to 0.01-0.5 mg/l=ppm)of ozone, greater activation of the microorganisms which carry out themicrobial biochemical reaction becomes possible.

Further, under the conditions that are created in the system 10 of FIG.1 , the digestive function exhibited by the microorganisms while in theaerobic reaction vessels occurs via different biochemical pathways (andconsequently via different chemical reactions) than under naturalconditions. In particular, in addition to water, at least some of thebiochemical pathways result in production of inert compounds, such asamorphous carbon or diatomic nitrogen (N₂). For example, under theconditions created in the system 10, digestion of acetic acid proceedsin accordance with the following equation:CH₃COOH→2C+2H₂O+Energy  (3)

Compared to equation (1) given above, the chemical reaction of equation(3) that takes place under the conditions in the Aerobic ReactionVessels 16 created in system 10 requires no external oxygen, thusallowing the reaction to proceed until the energy requirements of themicroorganisms satisfied, making exhibition of the reproductive functionpossible after that point. Further, unlike the reaction given inequation (1), the reaction does not produce carbon dioxide, but insteadproduces inert amorphous carbon that can be easily removed from themixed liquor 17. While this reaction does not use oxygen, the samemicroorganisms in the mixed liquor 17 can also perform aerobic digestionof other compounds. For example, digestion of ammonia takes place via adifferent chemical reaction than what is given in equation (2), but isstill aerobic. Thus, under the conditions created in the system 10, inthe Aerobic Reactions Vessels 16, the digestion of ammonia takes placein accordance with the following equation:4NH₃+3O₂=2N₂+6H₂O+Energy  (4)

This reaction of equation (4) uses only 3 molecules of diatomic oxygencompared to seven molecules used in the reaction of equation (2)),allowing the oxygen within the ultra-fine bubbles within the mixedliquor 17 to sustain the reaction longer. Further, instead of thenitrogen dioxide produced in equation (2), the reaction of equation (4)produces diatomic nitrogen, which does not pose the same environmentalconcerns as nitrogen dioxide. Similar reactions can also take place withcompounds that include phosphorous (such as phospholipids) and compoundsthat include sulfur. Likewise, similar reactions can take place withother biodegradable materials including cellulose and othercarbohydrates, fats, and oils, and different kinds of protein. Overall,under the conditions created in the Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16, themicroorganisms prioritize (if not switch entirely) using the biochemicalreaction pathways for digesting multiple, if not all, pollutants thatconsume less oxygen and that produce different end products than thebiochemical pathways for digesting the same pollutants employed underconditions found in nature. Further, at least some of the biochemicalpathways utilizing less oxygen also may occur faster than the pathwaysfor degrading the same pollutants that utilize more oxygen.

In one embodiment, the components of the system 10 described above canbe controlled independently of each other. In a further embodiment, thesystem 10 includes a Controller 39 that is interfaced, such as via awired or a wireless connections, to at least the Sludge SedimentationVessel 20, the Oxygen and Ozone generator 28, and the Atomizer 24 (inthe embodiment of the system 10 shown with reference to FIG. 1A) or theCavitation Pump 22 (in the embodiment of the system 10 shown withreference to FIG. 1B). The Controller 39 can also be similarlyinterfaced to other components of the system 39. The Controller 39 canreceive from the operator of the system 10 the amount of gas-dispersionreturn sludge 36 that is to be delivered to the Aerobic Reaction Vessel16 and control the Sludge Sedimentation Vessel, the Oxygen and OzoneGenerator 28, the Cavitation Pump 22 or the Atomizer 24 to deliver thedesired amount of the gas-dispersion return sludge 36. Alternatively,the controller 39 can receive from the operator a characteristic of thewastewater treatment, such as a degree of the wastewater treatmentdesired by the operator, a wastewater treatment time desired by theoperator, and a desired wastewater treatment capacity, and determine theamount of the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 to be delivered to theAerobic Reaction Vessel 16 to achieve the desired characteristic. Thedetermined amount can then be delivered under the control of theController 39. The Controller 39 can be a computing device, such as apersonal computer, a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, though other kindsof computing devices are possible. The Controller 39 can includecomponents conventionally found in general purpose programmablecomputing devices, such as a central processing unit, memory,input/output ports, network interfaces, and non-volatile storage,although other components are possible. The central processing unit canimplement computer-executable code which can be implemented as modules.The modules can be implemented as a computer program or procedurewritten as source code in a conventional programming language andpresented for execution by the central processing unit as object or bytecode. Alternatively, the modules could also be implemented in hardware,either as integrated circuitry or burned into read-only memorycomponents. The various implementations of the source code and objectand byte codes can be held on a computer-readable storage medium, suchas a floppy disk, hard drive, digital video disk (DVD), random accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM) and similar storage mediums. Othertypes of modules and module functions are possible, as well as otherphysical hardware components.

The Controller 39 can be controlled by the operator on-site or remotely.For example, the Controller 39 can be interfaced to an Internetwork,such as the Internet or a cellular network, and a user device (such as asmartphone though other user devices are possible) also interfacedallows to command the Controller 39 remotely, and provides remotecontrol of the system 10 to the operator.

Other embodiments of the Controller 39 are also possible.

When the system 10 has not been run recently, there may not alwaysgas-dispersion return sludge 36 available to be added to the AerobicReaction Vessel 36 and provide the aerobic microorganisms necessary toconduct the aerobic reaction to the Aerobic Reaction Vessel. In such asituation, the system 10 may utilize seed sludge—sludge 21 that is inputinto the system 10, such as into the Return Sludge Pipeway 26, from anexternal source, such as another wastewater treatment system, thoughother external sources are possible. By being processed by the Atomizer24 (or the Cavitation Pump 22) and the Oxygen and Ozone Generator 28,the seed sludge is turned into the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 andcan then be provided to the Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16 to be used forthe treatment of the wastewater 11. As the microorganisms present inactivated sludge 21 differ significantly based on the geographic originof the wastewater 11 from which the sludge 21 is created, the seedsludge introduced into the system 10 is selected based on the geographiclocation of the wastewater from 21 from the seed sludge originates.Preferably, the seed sludge is from the same or proximate geographiclocation as the wastewater 11 being processed by the system 10 to avoidan introduction of exogenous microorganisms that can negatively impactthe aerobic reaction.

The system 10 can be created from most existing water treatmentfacilities by retrofitting certain portions of the system 10 ontoexisting equipment. In particular, the Atomizer 24 or the CavitationPump 22, and the oxygen and ozone generator 28 can be retrofitted intoan existing wastewater treatment plant, allowing for widespread use ofthe system 10 and the method described in this application.

As described above, providing the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 allowsthe operator to exercise increased control over the wastewaterpurification. In particular, the ratio of the volume of gas-dispersionreturn sludge 36 to the volume of the wastewater 11 to be treated (andconsequently the amount of consumable pollutants available to themicroorganisms in the gas-dispersion return sludge 36) determineswhether the microorganisms exhibit exclusively the digestive function,or upon acquiring the necessary energy, in the presence of additionalpollutants and oxygen, can proceed to also exhibit the reproductivefunction and produce the sludge 21. FIGS. 2A-2B are flow diagramsshowing a method 40 for wastewater treatment through controlledmicroorganism activation in accordance with one embodiment. The methodcan be implemented using the system 10 of FIG. 1A or 1B. Optionally, ifno gas-dispersion return sludge 36 is present in the Aerobic ReactionVessel at the start of the execution of the method 40, seed sludge isadded to the system 10, is converted into gas-dispersion return sludge36, and is provided into one or more of the Aerobic Reaction Vessels, asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1A-1B (step 41). The load ofwastewater 11 to be treated is determined and the amount ofgas-dispersion return sludge 36 to be delivered to the Aerobic ReactionVessel 16 is determined (step 42). The determination of the amount ofthe gas-dispersion return sludge 36 can be done based on the load aswell as other desired characteristics of the wastewater treatment, suchas the degree of the purification and the speed of the treatment, thoughother characteristics are possible. Another one of the characteristicsis whether the goals of the wastewater treatments include only digestionof the pollutants (organic and other degradable pollutants such asammonia) via the digestive function or whether some creation ofadditional sludge 21 is desired. Thus, if the goal of the wastewatertreatment is pure digestion of the organic pollutants (and otherpollutants that can be digested to produce energy, such as ammonia) withcreation of minimum to no sludge 21, the ratio of the volume of thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 to the volume of the wastewater 11 isgoing to be greater than if creation of at least some sludge 21 isdesirable. However, as some amount of the sludge 21 is necessary forsubsequent purification cycles, the ratio of the volume of thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 to the volume of the wastewater 11 canbe decreased, allowing the microorganism to exhibit their reproductivefunction following the satiation of the digestive function. The levelsof pollutants (organic and other digestible pollutants) within awastewater 11 can vary with time even in the same location. These levelscan also vary based on the source of the wastewater 11 (and hence thegeographic location from where the wastewater 11 originates). Similarly,the digestive and reproductive abilities of the microorganism flora varydepending on which strains of the microorganisms that make up the florain the sludge 36, with different strains being present in differentgeographic regions. Further, the exact levels of dissolved reactive gaswithin the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 can affect the digestiveability of the microorganisms within the sludge 36 and thus the amountof the sludge 36 required to achieve purification goals. Due to thevariabilities associated with the different geographic locations andlevels of reactive gases, the optimum amount of sludge for a particularpurpose can be determined experimentally, as further described below.For the purpose of eliminating as much as of the organic pollutants aspossible while producing minimum amount of sludge, the ratio in themixed liquor 17 of volume of the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 (havingat least 10 mg/l of dissolved oxygen) to the volume of the wastewater 11of at least 10% has generally proved sufficient.

Optionally, if there is an opportunity for physically setting up orchanging the set-up of the equipment used for processing of thewastewater 11 (such as the system of FIGS. 1A-1B), the parameters of theequipment necessary for processing a particular wastewater load, such asthe size (though other parameters are also possible) can be determinedand optionally implemented in accordance with the determination (step43).

The wastewater 11 enters Sedimentation Vessel 12 where grit and otherinorganic solids settle and are separated out (step 44). Subsequently,the wastewater 11 enters Adjustment Vessel 14 where the load andconditions of raw sewage 11 are adjusted and solid organic material issolubilized by anaerobic microorganisms (step 45).

Next, the wastewater 11 flows, possibly via a mixer/distributor 15 ifone or more of them are part of the system 10, into one or more AerobicReaction Vessels 16, where the wastewater 11 (raw sewage) is added togas-dispersion return sludge 36 and blended to form mixed liquor 17 (ifthe mixer/distributor is involved, the mixed liquor 17 forms within themixer-distributor 15 and is provided to the one or more Aerobic ReactionVessels 16 where the majority of the biochemical (aerobic and otherkinds of digestion) consumption of organic pollutants (and otherdegradable pollutants) takes place) (step 46). From there, if anyaeration by bubbling using air as a reactive gas was previouslyperformed, such aeration becomes unnecessary due to the reactive gascontained in gas-dispersion return sludge 36. Dissolved oxygen (DO)(possibly with traces of ozone) is supplied to the Vessels 16 by thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 and organic solids left undissolvedafter step 45 are oxidized; at the same time biochemical treatment byaerobic microbe flora occurs, with the organic (and other digestible)pollutant substances dissolved in the wastewater 11 being digested towater (H₂O) and other byproducts, such as inert compounds such asamorphous carbon or diatomic nitrogen (N₂), which can be easily removed.If the digestive function of the microorganisms has been satisfied andexhibition of the reproductive function is possible, some of thepollutants can be immobilized as additional sludge 21 via the exhibitionby the microorganisms of their reproductive function (step 47).Following the completion of the consumption of the organic pollutantsvia the digestive and possibly the reproductive function, themicroorganisms enter the dormant state.

Through the action of the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22, and theOxygen and Ozone Generator 28, the quantity of dissolved oxygen ingas-dispersion return sludge 36 increases to a critical level (at least10 mg/l) that activates the microbe flora within the gas-dispersionreturn sludge 36 from the dormant state. While the microorganisms areactivated at this point and are ready to digest the organic and otherpollutants (and are prioritizing the digestive function over thereproductive function), the level of the organic pollutants (and otherpollutants which can be digested to extract energy) is either at zero(with the pollutants having previously been entirely consumed at the oneor more Aerobic Reaction Vessels) or close to zero (at a levelinsufficient to satiate the prioritized digestive function of themicroorganisms), and thus the microorganisms are forced into an extremestate of near-starvation. The activated microbe flora which existswithin gas-dispersion return sludge 36 is supplied to Mixer/Distributor15, if present in the system 10, and the activated microbe flora isblended with wastewater 11 by the Mixer/Distributor 15 to form the mixedliquor 17, which is supplied to the one or more Aerobic Reaction Vessels16 (or if the system 10 does not include the Mixer/Distributor 15, themixed liquor 17 is formed within the Aerobic Reaction Vessel 16). Withinthe Aerobic Reaction Vessels, the microorganisms continue toautonomously prioritize their digestive function over their reproductivefunction. The efficiency ratio of oxygen (DO) utilization in thedigestive function of the microbe flora becomes extremely heightened. Asa result, the activated microbe flora in the one or more AerobicReaction Vessels 16, becomes capable of purifying far more organicmatter per 1 DO than the typically defined quantity for the activatedsludge method of 1 BOD or 1 COD.

Next, the mixed liquor 17 progresses to Sedimentation Vessel 18, settlesinside Sedimentation Vessel 18 and is separated into sludge 21 andsupernatant (step 48). The settled sludge 21 is collected in SludgeStorage Vessel 20 (step 49), and is returned to Aerobic Reaction Vessel16 in the form of gas-dispersion return sludge 36, for cyclical reuse(step 50), as further described below with reference to FIG. 3 .

Excess sludge 27 is expelled from the Sludge Storage Vessel 20 and fromthe system 10 (step 51). Supernatant is also removed as treated water72, and undergoes further processing at the Treated Water ProcessingUnit 73 before being expelled from the system as Purified Water 74 (step52). The sterilization can be performed as described in U.S. Pat. No.10,287,194, issued May 14, 2019, to Ohki et al., the disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference, though other ways to perform thesterilization are possible.

Optionally, the amount of the sludge 21 that is collected in the SludgeStorage Vessel can be measured (such as by weighing the sludge 21), withthe results of the measurement being used to adjust the ratio ofgas-dispersion return sludge 36 to wastewater 11 used to form the mixedliquor 17 in subsequent repetitions of the method 40 (step 53). Forexample, if more than a desired amount of sludge 21 was measured, theratio of the amount of the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 to the amountof the wastewater 11 used to form the mixed liquor 17 can be increasedin subsequent runs of the method 40 (thus reducing the overall amount ofdigestible pollutants available to the microorganisms and increasing theprobability that all of the degradable pollutants will be digested bythe microorganisms via the digestive function). Alternatively, if notenough sludge 21 was created, the ratio of the amount of thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 to the amount of the wastewater 11 usedto form the mixed liquor 17 can be decreased in subsequent runs of themethod 40 (thus increasing the amount of the degradable pollutantsavailable to the microorganisms, which, can be used for reproduction ofthe microorganism following the satiation of the digestive function).

If more wastewater 11 to be treated remains (step 54), whether theamount of solid pollutants, organic and inorganic, in the next batch ofwastewater 11 to be treated requires action via execution of steps 44and 45 is determined (step 55). The determination can be made bycomparing the level of the solids to one or more thresholds, thoughother kinds of determinations are possible. If the level requires action(step 55), the method returns to step 44. If the level does not requireaction (55), the method 40 returns to step 46. If no more wastewater 11remains to be processed (step 52), the method 40 ends.

Providing the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 solely into the one ormore Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16, possibly via the Mixer/Distributor 15,allows to achieve an optimum quantity of the aerobic microorganismswithin the Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showinga routine for forming gas-dispersion return sludge and returning thegas-dispersion return sludge 36 to the one or more aerobic reactionvessels 16 for use in the method of FIG. 2A-2B in accordance with oneembodiment.

Reactive gas, pure oxygen or oxygen containing trace amounts of ozone,is generated by the Oxygen and Ozone Generator 28 (step 61). Asdescribed above, either the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22 isinstalled along the Return Sludge Pipeway 26. Once the reactive gas isintroduced into the return sludge 35, the return sludge 35 is convertedinto a gas-liquid mixed liquor (step 62). When this gas-liquid mixedliquor (sludge) passes through the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump22, the reactive gas within the gas-liquid mixed liquor (sludge) isinstantaneously rendered into ultra-fine bubbles (bubble diameter lessthan 30 μm, ideally bubble diameter less than 1 μm) and a portion of itis instantly dissolved (step 63). With this, a super-saturated DO valueof 10-40 mg/l is realized (0.01-0.5 mg/L of ozone if ozone is alsogenerated), and the remaining gas is dispersed, immobilized and storedwithin the sludge in an ultra-fine bubble state, providing a way toreplenish the supply of the dissolved reactive gases and continue thedigestion of the degradable pollutants.

This gas-dispersion return sludge 36 containing reactive gas is suppliedby the Atomizer 24 or the Cavitation Pump 22 only to the one or moreAerobic Reaction Vessels 16 (possibly via the Mixer/Distributor 15),where the gas-dispersion return sludge 36 is formed, along with thewastewater 11, part of the mixed liquor 17 (step 64), ending the routine60.

As mentioned above, upon addition of the gas-dispersion return sludge toone or more of the Aerobic Reaction Vessels 16 any bubbling in theAerobic Reaction Vessel 16 can be ceased. Or, in cases where thebubbling is required to prevent the settling of sludge, bubblingaeration can be minimal and may be conducted intermittently and forshort periods of time.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described asreferenced to the embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art willunderstand that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for wastewater treatment throughmicroorganism biochemical pathway optimization, comprising: providing asludge comprising microorganisms capable of digesting a plurality ofpollutants via at least two biochemical pathways, one of the pathwaysfor digesting each of the pollutants consuming less oxygen than anotherone of the pathways for consuming that pollutant, wherein the sludge issubstantially free of the pollutants, and wherein at least a majority ofthe microorganisms are in a dormant state when provided; providing,using a gas generator, at least one reactive gas into the sludge, the atleast one reactive gas comprising the oxygen; forming a gas-dispersionreturn sludge by rendering using one of an atomizer or a cavitation pumpthe at least one reactive gas into ultra-fine bubbles within the returnsludge, wherein a portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolves within thesludge, wherein the at least one dissolved reactive gas activates atleast a portion of the dormant microorganisms, and wherein thegas-dispersion return sludge is substantially free of the pollutants;receiving by a controller, the controller interfaced to the gasgenerator and one of the line atomizer or the cavitation pump, userinput and determining an amount of the gas-dispersion return sludge usedto form a mixed liquor based on the user input; and forming the mixedliquor by combining the determined amount of the gas-dispersion returnsludge provided under a control of the controller with a wastewater thatcomprises one or more of the pollutants, wherein, upon encountering thepollutants within the wastewater, the activated microorganisms digestthe pollutants by prioritizing for at least some of the pollutants thepathways that consume less of the oxygen for the digestion of thosepollutants over the pathways that consume more of the oxygen for thedigestion of those pollutants.
 2. A method according to claim 1, whereinthe pollutants comprise one or more of ammonia, acetic acid, phosphorus,and biodegradable materials comprising at least one of cellulose,carbohydrates, fats and oils, and protein.
 3. A method according toclaim 2, wherein at least some of the pollutants are organic pollutantsand wherein digesting one or more of the organic pollutants via thepathways that consume more of the oxygen produces carbon dioxide anddigesting the organic pollutants via the pathways that consume lessoxygen does not produce carbon dioxide and produces amorphous carbon. 4.A method according to claim 3, wherein the pathway that producesamorphous carbon uses up none of the oxygen.
 5. A method according toclaim 2, wherein digesting one or more of the pollutants that comprisenitrogen via one or more of the pathways that consume more of the oxygenproduces nitrogen dioxide and digesting the one or more pollutants thatcomprise the nitrogen via the pathways that consume less of the oxygendoes not produce nitrogen dioxide and produces diatomic nitrogen.
 6. Amethod according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reactive gasfurther comprises ozone.
 7. A method according to claim 1, whereindigesting at least some of the pollutants via the pathway that consumesless of the oxygen takes less time than digesting those pollutants viathe pathway that consumes more of the oxygen and wherein the user inputcomprises a desired treatment time for the wastewater, wherein theamount of the gas-dispersion return sludge is determined using thedesired treatment time and the time associated with the at least onepathway that consumes less of the oxygen.
 8. A method according to claim1, wherein at least some of the pollutants are organic pollutants andwherein the microorganisms are further capable of exhibiting areproductive function by which the microorganisms absorb the organicpollutants and asexually reproduce using the absorbed pollutants.
 9. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the dissolvedoxygen within the gas-dispersion return sludge is at least 10 mg/l. 10.A method according to claim 9, wherein a volume of the gas-dispersionreturn sludge is at least 10% of a volume of the wastewater to betreated.
 11. A method for input-controlled wastewater treatment throughmicroorganism biochemical pathway optimization, comprising: providing asludge comprising microorganisms capable of digesting a plurality ofpollutants via at least two biochemical pathways, one of the pathwaysfor digesting each of the pollutants consuming less oxygen than anotherone of the pathways for consuming that pollutant, wherein the sludge issubstantially free of the pollutants, and wherein at least a majority ofthe microorganisms are in a dormant state when provided; providing,using a gas generator, at least one reactive gas into the sludge, the atleast one reactive gas comprising the oxygen; forming a gas-dispersionreturn sludge by rendering using one of an atomizer or a cavitation pumpthe at least one reactive gas into ultra-fine bubbles within the sludge,wherein a portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolves within the sludge,wherein the at least one dissolved reactive gas activates at least aportion of the dormant microorganisms, and wherein the gas-dispersionreturn sludge is substantially free of the pollutants; receiving by acontroller, the controller interfaced to the gas generator and one ofthe line atomizer or the cavitation pump, user input and determining anamount of the gas-dispersion return sludge used to form a mixed liquorbased on the user input; and forming under a control of the controllerthe mixed liquor by combining the determined amount of thegas-dispersion return sludge with a wastewater that comprises one ormore of the pollutants, wherein, upon encountering the pollutants withinthe wastewater, the activated microorganisms digest at least some of theencountered pollutants by prioritizing for at least some of theencountered pollutants the pathways that consume less of the oxygen forthe digestion of those pollutants over the pathways that consume more ofthe oxygen for the digestion of those pollutants.
 12. A method accordingto claim 11, wherein the user input comprises the amount of thegas-dispersion return sludge to be combined with the wastewater.
 13. Amethod according to claim 11, wherein the user input comprises one ormore desired characteristics of a treatment of the wastewater andwherein an amount of the gas-dispersion return to be combined with thewastewater is determined based on the one or more characteristics.
 14. Amethod according to claim 13, wherein the one or more characteristicscomprise one or more of a degree of the wastewater treatment of thewastewater, a time of the wastewater treatment, and capacity of thewastewater treatment.
 15. A method according to claim 11, whereindigesting at least some of the pollutants via the pathway that consumesless of the oxygen takes less time than digesting those pollutants viathe pathway that consumes more of the oxygen and wherein the user inputcomprises a desired treatment time for the wastewater, wherein theamount of the gas-dispersion return sludge is determined using thedesired treatment time and the time associated with the at least onepathway that consumes less of the oxygen.
 16. A method according toclaim 11, wherein at least some of the pollutants are organic pollutantsand wherein the microorganisms are further capable of exhibiting areproductive function by which the microorganisms absorb the organicpollutants and asexually reproduce using the absorbed pollutants.
 17. Amethod for measurement-based wastewater treatment adjustment throughmicroorganism biochemical pathway optimization, comprising: providing asludge comprising microorganisms capable of digesting a plurality ofpollutants via at least two biochemical pathways, one of the pathwaysfor digesting each of the pollutants consuming less oxygen than anotherone of the pathways for consuming that pollutant, wherein the sludge issubstantially free of the pollutants, and wherein at least a majority ofthe microorganisms are in a dormant state when provided; providing,using a gas generator, at least one reactive gas into the sludge, the atleast one reactive gas comprising the oxygen; forming a gas-dispersionreturn sludge by rendering using one of an atomizer or a cavitation pumpthe at least one reactive gas into ultra-fine bubbles within the sludge,wherein a portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolves within the sludge,wherein the at least one dissolved reactive gas activates at least aportion of the dormant microorganisms, and wherein the gas-dispersionreturn sludge is substantially free of the pollutants; receiving by acontroller, the controller interfaced to the gas generator and one ofthe line atomizer or the cavitation pump, user input and determining anamount of the gas-dispersion return sludge used to form a mixed liquorbased on the user input; and forming the mixed liquor by combining thedetermined amount of the gas-dispersion return sludge provided under acontrol of the controller with a wastewater that comprises one or moreof the pollutants, wherein, upon encountering the pollutants within thewastewater, the activated microorganisms digest the pollutants byprioritizing for at least some of the pollutants the pathways thatconsume less of the oxygen for the digestion of those pollutants overthe pathways that consume more of the oxygen for the digestion of thosepollutants; separating the mixed liquor into a supernatant and thesludge; and measuring an amount of the sludge separated from the mixedliquor, wherein a ratio of the gas-dispersion return sludge to thewastewater is adjusted in forming further batches of the mixed liquorbased on the amount of the sludge separated from the mixed liquor.
 18. Amethod according to claim 17, wherein the pollutants comprise one ormore of ammonia, acetic acid, phosphorus, and biodegradable materialscomprising at least one of cellulose, carbohydrates, fats, and oils, andprotein.
 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein at least some ofthe pollutants are organic pollutants and wherein digesting one or moreof the organic pollutants via the pathways that consume more of theoxygen produces carbon dioxide and digesting the organic pollutants viathe pathways that consume less oxygen does not produce carbon dioxideand produces amorphous carbon.
 20. A method according to claim 19,wherein the pathway that produces amorphous carbon uses up none of theoxygen.